Since the beginning, the Belarusian revolution 2020 differed from other coloured revolutions in the variety of forms of the protest. Most of them were peaceful and within the framework of the acting legislation of the Republic of Belarus. However, the regime of Lukashenka perceived every action as an encroachment upon power. Every action was followed by arrests, trials, repressions.

Human rights defence is one of the main activities of Our House. That is why our team regularly collects information and makes analysis of repressions and prosecution of Belarusians for their active civic stance.

In the previous article of Our House on round dance protest actions “This is Revenge: 244 years of penal punishment for a peaceful round dance and songs in Belarus. 130 people have already been affected” you can read about what happened on September 13, 2020 in Brest. Following the events, the Investigation Committee launched a criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. By May 17, 2022, 14 groups of defendants were convicted.  

In this article of Our House, the outcome of the next four court hearings on the “Round Dance Case” in Brest is presented. The court hearings took place from May to September 2021. 44 men and women were convicted in that period. The total number of the convicted people under the “Round Dance Case” amounts to 130.

The rubric “Defence and Solidarity” of Our House’s website provides numerous materials on the repressions that Belarusians are subjected to for their active civic stance. In the sections “Monitorings” you can find analytical materials on the pressing issues of Belarusians inside the country and abroad.

13 “judges” participated in that farce, convicting the innocent people to the total of 138 years and 3 months of restraint of liberty under home confinement, 92 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution and to 14 years and 3 months of imprisonment in a prison colony. Our House has collected the names of the “judges” and of other regime’s participants of the process, like public prosecutors, into a separate list, and is preparing a special monitoring report on those who sold their honour and conscience to the dictator:

1. Sviataslau Kalina
2. Dzmitry Shuryn
3. Ina Klyshpach
4. Siarhei Maruchak
5. Yauhen Brehan
6. Dzmitry Kurouski
7. Vera Filonik
8. Maryia Aliferuk
9. Katsiaryna Ramashka
10. Tatsiana Lauraniuk
11. Maryna Skalkovich
12. Liudmila Rubasheuskaya
13. Viktar Novik

TRIALS IN THE ROUND DANCE CASE OF BREST. PART 2

On May 24, 2021, the trial of the fifth group of 13 people took place.

The defendants were accused under Part 1, Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

	Ihar Vinakurau from Brest 19 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Ihar Vinakurau from Brest 19 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Siarhei Ksenzhuk from Brest	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Dzmitry Kurhanau from Brest 23 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Alena Loika from Brest 43 years old	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
	Radzivon Medusheuski from Brest 23 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Safiya Nisht from Brest 28 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Andrei Niamirski from Brest 40 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
	Illia Palkhouski from Brest 25 years old	2 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Katsiaryna Smirnova from Brest 39 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Mikita Uvarau from Brest 20 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
	Aliaksandr Khrapko from Brest 27 years old	1 year of maximum-security prison colony.	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Halina Chuhunova from Brest 28 years old	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status

 

The judge passing the sentence: Yauhen Brehan.

The sentence was passed on June 6, 2021.

On August 09, 2021, the trial of the seventh group of 13 people took place.

The defendants were accused under Part 1, Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

	Kaciaryna Brovach from Brest	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Juryj Saciuk from Brest	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
	Hlieb Nikanovich from Brest 23 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Ihar Siamykin from Brest 30 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Arciom Tarasiuk from Brest 27 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Aliaksandr Zhuk from Brest 24 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Siarhei Kananovich from Pruzhany	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Kanstantsin Svidunovich a TV presenter, from Brest 25 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Viktar Atroshka a pensioner, from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Tacciana Rahachouskaja from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
	Artsiom Laski from Brest 38 years old	2 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Illia Yahorau from Kobryn 19 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
	Daniil Dzitkouski from Brest 18 years old	2 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.

 

The judge passing the sentence: Dzmitry Kurouski.

Prosecutors: Aliaksandr Batsiushka, Mikhail Yushchuk.

The sentence was passed on August 30, 2021.

On July 26, 2021, the trial of the sixth group of 12 people took place.

The defendants were accused under Part 1, Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

	Artsiom Andrasiuk from Brest 26 years old	2 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Aliaksei Birukou from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Tatsiana Birukova from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Siarhei Dziahtsiaryk from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Darya Dziamiyanka from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Andrei Kastsiuk from Brest	3 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	No PP status
	Ihar Laptanovich from Pruzhany 33 years old	2.5 years of prison colony.	Recognized political prisoner.
	Yuliya Laptanovich from Pruzhany 25 years old	3 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Uladzimir Makarevich from Brest 41 years old	2.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Andrei Parfeyevets from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Kanstantsin Piatsinkin from Brest	2 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Natallia Shyla from Brest	2.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	No PP status

The judge passing the sentence: Vera Filonik.

Prosecutors: Henadz Bury, Vadzim Bahatka.

The sentence was passed on August 4, 2021.

On September 24, 2021, the trial of the eighth group of 6 people took place.

The defendants were accused under Part 1, Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

	Mikita Dzmitryieu from Brest 28 years old	2 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Hanna Kashyrskich from Brest 51 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	No PP status
	Aleh Kulesha from Pruzhany 49 years old	1 year 7 months of prison colony.	Recognized political prisoner.
No photo available.	Siarhei Kuntsevich from Brest 60 years old	1.5 years of restriction of liberty in an open-type correctional institution («khimiya»).	No PP status
No photo available.	Dzmitryj Makarevich from Brest 27 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status
No photo available.	Tatsiana Pekarskaya from Brest 31 years old	1.5 years of restraint of liberty under home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).	No PP status

 

The judge passing the sentence: Maryia Aliferuk.

Prosecutors: Andrei Manko. Andrei Manko.

The sentence was passed on October 6, 2021.

Our House asks to treat seriously all the facts and numbers stated in our material. We cannot suggest you to try on the destiny of another person, but it is important to understand that regular, common people became heroes in our country in 2020. Those heroes have not disappeared, as has not disappeared our faith that the time of justice will arrive, the innocent will be released, and honest judges will pass verdicts in the free and democratic Belarus.